Electrical costs

Panel upgrades, rewiring, EV chargers and the permit work that comes with them. Page 3 of 3.

• Electrician cost$80 to $180per hourAn electrician charges $80 to $180 an hour, most commonly $110, plus a call-out fee of $100 to $250. Small jobs feel expensive because most of the bill is the visit rather than the work.
• Electrical panel upgrade cost$1,500 to $6,000per projectUpgrading from 100 to 200 amps costs $1,500 to $6,000, typically $2,800. Replacing a panel at the same amperage is cheaper, and knowing which job you need is most of the decision.
• EV charger installation cost$500 to $2,500per projectA Level 2 home charger costs $500 to $2,500 installed. The federal credit expired for installations after 30 June 2026, and hardwiring is now often cheaper than fitting an outlet.
• House rewiring cost$600 to $1,700per sq ftRewiring costs $6 to $17 per square foot, so $9,000 to $25,500 for a 1,500 square foot house. Those figures usually exclude the wall repair, which can be a third of the project.
• Whole house generator cost$7,000 to $20,000per projectA standby generator costs $7,000 to $20,000 installed, with most 22 kW jobs at $10,000 to $14,000. The honest question is how many hours a year your power is actually out.
• Recessed lighting cost$100 to $300eachRecessed lighting costs $100 to $300 per downlight installed, typically $200. Six lights do not cost six times one light; they cost about three times.
• Electrical outlet installation cost$140 to $350eachAdding an outlet costs $140 to $350, most often $230. Nearly all of that is the visit: the device costs $5 and the work takes half an hour, so do them in batches.